Monday, November 2, 2015

Transfer to Fleming Park

Well, it
seems like everyone is anxious to see what is happening to me! I am now
in the Kansas City Zone serving as a Zone Leader in the Fleming Park
ward with Elder Behymer! My new area is literally 15 minutes away from
my first area, Independence 4th ward. It is a little less populated
than Independence, but not by much. Back to the city life...it is going
to take a little while to get used to living in the city again.

Yay
for the KC Royals! I'm happy that they are finally done, because it was
so hard to meet with anyone on the days that the Royals were playing.
Good for them!

Oh, the "Juahova witness" picture was legit, the guy thought we were Jehovah Witnesses.

Mom, my ring size is 8 1/2. :)

Oh,
and you asked for B-day/Christmas present ideas. All I could really use
are some postage stamps and maybe 2 long sleeve white shirts for
meetings and what not. Can you try and find some that are a thicker material but still
the non wrinkle? Just so they aren't see through with my garments. I
could also use some new ties, I always like those. :)

Hope
everyone had a happy Halloween this past weekend! Basically all we
could do is visit member families because everyone who we would talk to
would just get mad at us for talking to them on Halloween. So, we spent
the day with various members and then we had to come back to our
apartment after dinner so we weren't out with the trick-or-treaters and
also the trouble makers. People out here go all out on Halloween,
kinda cool to see.

Well, when I got
to this apartment it wasn't exactly the most clean or organized thing in
the world... Something that I have learned out here is that if you
want to feel the spirit, you have to create the environment for the
spirit to feel comfortable. If we look at the inside of the temple, it
is super clean! So, throughout this week I have been getting up early
so that I could have a half hour each day to clean this place up! By
the end of it all I probably threw out 10 trash bags full of garbage and
miscellanies junk! Missionaries would just shove stuff into the
recesses of this place, pretty nasty. But, today we are going to do
another sweep clean to get this place up to ship shape in Bristol
fashion.

Ok, you are all going to be
blown away at how the Lord orchestrates his work when you hear this
story. Do you all remember Justin and Regina from Independence 4th
ward, my first area? Well, right after I left that area I had heard
that they had moved to a town called Sedalia, MO. I heard someone
mention their names while I was at a leadership meeting so I quickly
found out that they were actually in Kansas City! Turns out they
actually live in Fleming Park! Mind blown! Yes, I am again teaching
them. They are working on getting married in the next few weeks and
they they will be baptized! I worked with they for 6 months in
Independence and now get the opportunity to finish the job. I am so
excited to help them continue down this path.

We
had a pretty fun ward party the second day I came into the area. It
was a good opportunity to meet everyone and for everyone to meet me. I
also saw a couple of youth from the Independence 4th ward there so that
was fun to catch up with them!

We had
the great opportunity to take the sacrament to a young family whose
little boy of 2 years old just got diagnosed with Leukemia. :( I
absolutely hate cancer. It was hard to see this little boy all hooked up
to the IV's and just sitting there not really knowing what was going on
and just playing with his little trucks. It was a good opportunity to
reflect on the plan of salvation. I have no idea what I would do in
that situation if I didn't have the knowledge of the gospel in my life.
The gospel blessing individuals and families in so many different ways!

Thank
you to all who have sent letters to me this past week! It has been
wonderful to hear from everyone. I really sincerely appreciate it. It
has been a great pick me up for me and to receive an update on everyone.

Matthew 16:21-28:

21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that
he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third
day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art
an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God,
but those that be of men.

24 ¶Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

This
is some of my favorite scripture in all of the standard works.
Especially verses 24-26. Are we truly representatives of Jesus Christ
in our everyday actions? Words? Deeds? These are great questions to
think to ourselves and ponder on what we need to change in our lives to
become more in tune with the spirit and centered on Jesus Christ. I am
so grateful for the Savior and for what he means to me and has done for
me. As we try to become better day to day, or Heavenly Father will
bless us more and more. We need to have action associated to everything
we do.

Thank you all for everything that you do for me!

Love,

Elder Shoemaker

Here is Bishop Walkers family (from Kearney, MO). In the back left the girl behind Sister Walker is Abigail, the girl we were teaching. Left to Right: Sister Walker, Abigail, Camille, Mary, Bishop, Me, Dan

Bishop Walker is up on one of the most spiritual men I have ever met in my life. He let me have an interview with him the night before I left and he gave me some amazing insights and words of encouragement. He has also taught me many life lessons that I will keep. This is one family I will stay in touch with.